East’s sun still shining

Posted by [email protected] | May 20, 2016 | East/Warner, Sports | 0 |

East 5; Guest 2, May 20th, 2016

At our September pre-season workout with Roland Williams, East ’93, now East High School Principal Marlene Blocker offered a rousing pep talk:

East Principal Marlene Blocker, 5/20/16

from “Team Eagle” set to open a new field of dreams at East. Roland Williams ’93 drops by for final summer tune up.

Team Eagle is looking for veteran and rookie players. To make the long shots and beat the urban odds. To bring some real juice and send home any junk that doesn’t belong! The championship has our name written all over it. The engraving already begun. Ready for the challenge and the glory?

from “Can East back up No.1 seed?” (D & C) 5/20/16

As reported today by James Goodman, no RCSD baseball team has won a Section V title since 1980. This afternoon, with Principal Blocker cheering, East took one step closer to that championship, notching a 5 – 2 win over Churchville-Chili in the opening round of the Class AA sectionals under sparkling sunshine in front of a big crowd. Those urban odds got that much better.

Churchville-Chili v. East at East 5/20/16

In his season preview, Coach Kyle Crandall saw bright prospects for his squad. He watched as the team came together as a family on a road trip to Cincinnati. Then, East won its third straight City championship, capping an 18 – 2 season. In today’s game, East build a 5 – 0 lead.

At an earlier game, East v. Monroe at Cobb’s Hill: (sitting) Coach Kyle Crandall; (standing) Assistant Coach Brett Crandall

East Social Studies teacher, Robert Snyder

But Churchville-Chili came back with two runs in the 7th– bringing a call to the bullpen from Crandall — and had the bases loaded with two out. But a force out at second sealed the deal for the Eagles whose sun will rise at least another day.

with East 6th grade teacher, Khieta Davis, in the Press Box [Photo: Ken Jackson]

Just about everyone was there. Athletic Director Patrick Irving (who helped restore East’s trophies) was pleased with the turnout. Inching up in popularity with basketball and football, Patrick said baseball games are attracting some fans who might not attend any other outside school event or function. Looking good in his East football jacket, Social Studies teacher Robert Snyder (who you met a few years ago) is finishing his first year at East — also Rob’s alma mater.

Sonyalice McGrew, 11th grader at East, in the Press Box

Another first year Eagle was there, 6th grade teacher Khieta Davis. Never too late to jump on the bandwagon, this was Khieta’s first East baseball game ever. She was quick to say not her first baseball game as Khieta has seen the Yankees and, even handedly but disappointingly, the Red Sox.

As Khieta was technically with a member of the press, a VIP Press Box photo op was in order. There we met the boisterous Press Box boys, including Ken Jackson who took the picture, and 11th grader Sonyaalice McGrew cheering from above the field.

And, while hardly needing to be said, the entire Agosoto clan was in attendance, rooting for 10th grader Jordi playing shortstop. Jordi’s Mom, Madeline, says she has been at every one of Jordi’s baseball games “since he was in pampers.” And this season, the entire clan has been to every East game, home and away.

Jordi Agosto’s family and friends at the game: Mom (Madeline), Grandmother, Great Grandmother, sister, niece, nephew, brother, aunt, Dad (not pictured)

The Jordi clan fan club will have at least one more chance to cheer.

Coach Crandall giving team a high five after the 5 – 2 win over Churcville-Chili in the AA Sectionals. 5/20/16

Democrat and Chronicle, 5/21/16

UPDATE: see Following a historic season, East baseball opens with back-to-back no hitters.

Following a historic season, East baseball opens with back-to-back no hitters.

About The Author

[email protected]

Welcome to Talker of the Town! My name is David Kramer. I have a Ph.D in English and teach at Keuka College. I am a former and still active Fellow at the Nazareth College Center for Public History and a Storyteller in Residence at the SmallMatters Institute. Over the years, I have taught at Monroe Community College, the Rochester Institute of Technology and St. John Fisher College. I have published numerous Guest Essays, Letters, Book Reviews and Opinion pieces in The New York Times, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, the Buffalo News, the Rochester Patriot, the Providence Journal, the Providence Business News, the Brown Alumni Magazine, the New London Day, the Boston Herald, the Messenger Post Newspapers, the Wedge, the Empty Closet, the CITY, Lake Affect Magazine and Brighton Connections. My poetry appears in The Criterion: An International Journal in English and Rundenalia and my academic writing in War, Literature and the Arts and Twentieth Century Literary Criticism. Starting in February 2013, I wrote for three Democratic and Chronicle blogs, "Make City Schools Better," "Unite Rochester," and the "Editorial Board." When my tenure at the D & C ended, I wanted to continue conversations first begun there. And start new ones. So we created this new space, Talker of the Town, where all are invited to join. I don’t like to say these posts are “mine.” Very few of them are the sole product of my sometimes overheated imagination. Instead, I call them partnerships and collaborations. Or as they say in education, “peer group work.” Talker of the Town might better be Talkers of the Town. The blog won’t thrive without your leads, text, pictures, ideas, facebook shares, tweets, comments and criticisms.